Silver Knight
Psaltoda plaga (Walker, 1850)
© Popple Creative Industries 2014–2024
Male
Female
Other name(s):
Black Prince.
Species number (TNS):
103.
Fore wing length:
37–47 mm.
Distribution and seasonality:
From south of Bundaberg,
coastally and subcoastally south
to southern New South Wales. It
is also present on the central
western slopes in New South
Wales at Warrumbungle
National Park. Adults occur from
late October to May,
occasionally extending to early
June.
Notable localities:
Bli Bli, Peachester, Lake
Samsonvale, Redland Bay,
Sydney, Campbelltown.
Habitat:
Riparian forest, dry sclerophyll
forest, gallery forest, riverine
woodland and mangroves.
Adults occurs principally on
eucalypts and she-oaks, but
also on Grey Mangrove
(Avicennia marina).
Calling song and behaviour:
Harsh and metallic with a
continuous wine and a pulsing
component. Adults occur in
local aggregations on the upper
branches of trees.
Colour variation:
Silver Knight occurs in olive and
green, as well as darker brown
colour forms. The olive and
green forms occur along the
coastal belt from Bundaberg
south to north-eastern New
South Wales and patchily
further south to the central coast
north of Sydney. The darker
forms of the same species are
known as the Black Prince,
which varies from jet black to
rich brown/black and also slate
grey. It occurs from the
Sunshine Coast Hinterland west
to the slopes of the Great
Dividing Range and south to
beyond Sydney. Black Prince is
the common colour form in the
suburbs of Sydney.
Similar species:
Clanger, Phantom Knight.
Habitat
dr-pop.net database record
Currently known extent
Male (olive form)
Male (dark form - Black Prince)
Female (green form)